Category: Accepting help from others

Scenarios
Child is trying to do something challenging and not accepting any help; child failed to accomplish something he tried doing by himself; siblings are not working together

Scripture Lesson
After Moses freed the Israelites from the Egyptians and while traveling through the wilderness, they were attacked by the Amalekites, a group of robbers led by a man named Amalek. At this time, Amalekites were kind of like pirates or bandits who wandered around the desert looking for people to rob and kill. Moses told Joshua, one of his assistants and the one who would succeed Moses as prophet, to gather an army to defend themselves. Joshua did as Moses asked and went to battle while Moses along with Aaron and Hur watched from the top of a hill.

Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: (Exodus 17:8-10)

As they fought an incredible miracle happened. While holding his staff, when Moses would raise his hands in the air Israel would start winning the battle and when he would put down his arms the Amalekites would start winning.

and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Exodus 17:10-11)

QuestionDoesn’t that sound like a super easy way to win a battle?How long do you think a battle usually lasts?Do you think you can hold up your hands that long?

ActivityHave your kids raise both their arms in the air and see how long they can last.

It was looking like a sure win but we all know when arms stay in the air too long they start to get tired and that’s exactly what happened to Moses. His arms became heavy.

QuestionWhat do you think Moses should do to keep his arms up?

Well, listen to what they did.

But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. (see picture above) And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. (Exodus 17:12-13)

QuestionWhat kind of help did Aaron and Hur give Moses?What do you think of their solution?

Joshua and his army were able to win the battle. Moses knew that the only way he could accomplish this great miracle was with the help of Aaron, Hur, and God. The story isn’t quite done. Just a few more verses. Let’s see what God told Moses to do next.

And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. (Exodus 17:14-17)

Moses was told to do what he could to remember this story and share it from time to time with the Israelites so they would remember what God had done to help them.

QuestionWhy do you think it is important to remember the things God has done for you?

ApplicationQuestionHow does this story apply to our family?Next time someone in our family has a problem to overcome, what should the rest of us do?